November 2019

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

Dear Members,

It was fantastic to see so many of you at Conference 2019 in Melbourne. What a brilliant event. Again, I would like to sincerely thank everyone who played a part in putting it together, if there is ever something that is truly a team effort, this is it. Firstly our brilliant Events team, led by Nadia Kentera – they continue to produce an excellent, fun, informative Conference. Our Conference Committee who work so hard over a long time to design and implement the program. To all of our many speakers and panellists who educate us so well. Once again we had outstanding industry support form our partners and exhibitors, and from speaking to them I know that they get great value, we thank them so much. Our Board and Technical Committee who provide great support and advice. Our Membership and Marketing Managers, Naomi and Travis who have gone above and beyond. And most importantly all of the members who come along and make this event what it is, truly a jewel in the crown for the FTA and our Community.

Planning for 2020 in Sydney will soon commence, and we will again be calling on this help, so please look out for us calling for Committee members! In the meantime, we are working hard on the 2020 PD calendar, starting with our other flagship event, Essential Treasurer in March. And along with our networking events, webinars, Women In Treasury, CPD and others, don’t forget our recently launched Podcast series, which you can access here.

Ben LeaverCEO

EVENT WRAP UP

THE TREASURY CURRENCY PODCAST

The FTA’s The Treasury Currency podcast is a source for treasury news, insights and stories from Australia’s business leaders.

Episode 3: Follow the Cash

Duration: 17 mins

Speakers:

Alice Van Der Geest – Treasurer – Melbourne Airport

Ben Leaver – CEO – Finance and Treasury Association

MESSAGE FROM THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

Dear Members,

Well, that’s the FTA Conference done and dusted for another year. I was impressed with the quality of the topics, presenters and discussion with some good questions from the audience at the sessions I attended.

The exhibition area worked very well, with a good range of exhibitors, coffee and juice!

Congratulations to everyone involved, and let’s make the next conference in Sydney even better.

Even though I was a tad late to the Technical Committee session on the markets in 2020 and beyond, I do feel we gave the audience in the ballroom a good flavour of the issues Treasurers will need to address.

There’s no doubt IBOR fallbacks promise to make life difficult for Treasurers throughout 2020 and into 2021. We covered many of the issues which arise from the replacement benchmarks and the eefect on loans, derivatives and other commercial contracts. We also discussed the absence of any real term structure for the risk free rates proposed. We are waiting for these markets to be developed.

We also covered the updated leasing standards and the need to find the right rate to discount the asset and liability cash flows. This has not proved a simple task as there are many approaches and not much guidance on whether there is a correct method. And IBOR Fallbacks may have an impact here as well: there is potential for the rates we use today to change if IBORs are replaced by risk-free cash rates.

When you add the potential effects of Brexit to the ongoing trade negotiations between the US and China you get a recipe for “interesting times” in 2020.

I look forward to discussing these and other issues with the expanded Technical Committee as we close out 2019 and move into 2020.

Lindesay Brine
Technical Committee Chair

CALL FOR MENTEES

If you have made the decision to look for a mentor, then it’s a great step in the right direction to gaining the exposure and skills from experienced that others in the professional community can offer you in your career journey.

UPCOMING EVENTS

JOBS BOARD

Do you have an upcoming role you need to advertise? We’re pleased to offer companies the chance to promote their new listings on the FTA jobs board. Find out more by contacting us at: membership@financetreasury.com.au